Ethical Principles and Publication Policy

The Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health (SJMPH) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics, research integrity, and editorial transparency. The journal follows the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

1. Publication Ethics

1.1 Authorship

Authorship is limited to individuals who have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, analysis, or interpretation of the research.

All authors must:

  • Approve the final version of the manuscript before submission.
  • Agree to its submission for publication.
  • Accept responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the work.

Any changes to authorship after submission require written consent from all authors and approval from the Editor-in-Chief.

1.2 Originality and Plagiarism

Submitted manuscripts must be original and must not have been previously published or simultaneously submitted to another journal.

All submissions are screened using plagiarism detection software before peer review.

The journal strictly prohibits:

  • Plagiarism
  • Self-plagiarism
  • Duplicate publication
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Image manipulation
  • Citation manipulation

Confirmed misconduct may result in rejection, retraction, and notification of the authors' institution when appropriate.

1.3 Research Integrity

  • Authors are responsible for ensuring that all reported data are accurate, complete, and reproducible.
  • Fabrication, falsification, selective reporting, or manipulation of research data constitute serious ethical misconduct.

1.4 Conflicts of Interest

  • Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that may influence the publication process.
  • Declared conflicts of interest will be disclosed in the published article whenever appropriate.

1.5 Ethical Approval

Research involving human participants or animals must receive approval from an appropriate ethics committee before the study begins.

The manuscript must clearly state:

  • The name of the ethics committee.
  • The approval number, when applicable.

1.6 Informed Consent

  • Authors must confirm that informed consent was obtained from all participants or their legal representatives for studies involving human subjects.
  • Patient privacy and confidentiality must always be protected.

2. Editorial and Publication Policies

2.1 Peer Review Process

SJMPH operates a double-blind peer review system in which both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process.

The peer review process consists of the following stages:

  • Initial editorial screening to assess the manuscript's scope, quality, and compliance with the journal's requirements.
  • Assignment of the manuscript to at least two independent expert reviewers.
  • Reviewers evaluate the manuscript based on:
  • Scientific quality
  • Originality
  • Methodology
  • Ethical compliance
  • Clarity of presentation
  • The Editor-in-Chief makes the final editorial decision based on the reviewers' recommendations.

Editorial decisions include:

  • Accept
  • Minor Revision
  • Major Revision
  • Reject

The peer review process typically takes 4–6 weeks. However, the review period may vary depending on the nature of the manuscript and the availability of qualified reviewers.

The final decision regarding publication rests solely with the Editor-in-Chief.

2.2 Open Access Policy

SJMPH is a fully open-access journal.

All articles are immediately and permanently available free of charge under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Authors retain copyright and full publishing rights without restrictions. By submitting a manuscript, authors grant the Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health (SJMPH) a non-exclusive license to publish, distribute, preserve, and archive the article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

License:

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

2.3 Retraction and Corrections

  • The journal follows the COPE Retraction Guidelines.
  • Articles may be corrected, retracted, or removed (only in exceptional legal circumstances) when significant ethical or scientific concerns are identified.

2.4 Appeals and Complaints

  • Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a written explanation to the Editorial Office.
  • Appeals and complaints are handled fairly, confidentially, and independently by the Editorial Board.

2.5 Post-Publication Corrections

  • The journal publishes corrections, corrigenda, expressions of concern, or retractions whenever necessary to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

3. Responsibilities

3.1 Authors

Authors are responsible for:

  • Complying with the journal's ethical standards.
  • Reporting data honestly and accurately.
  • Disclosing conflicts of interest.
  • Obtaining ethical approval when required.
  • Ensuring the originality of submitted work.

3.2 Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Maintain confidentiality.
  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely reviews.
  • Declare conflicts of interest.
  • Report suspected ethical concerns to the editors.

3.3 Editors

Editors are responsible for:

  • Making fair and unbiased editorial decisions.
  • Maintaining confidentiality throughout the review process.
  • Avoiding conflicts of interest.
  • Investigating ethical concerns according to COPE guidance.

4. Publication Misconduct

Suspected publication misconduct is investigated in accordance with the COPE Core Practices.

Depending on the severity of the misconduct, the journal may:

  • Reject the manuscript.
  • Request corrections.
  • Publish an Expression of Concern.
  • Retract the article.
  • Notify the authors' institution when appropriate.